Motion take-up for control cables



Feb. 13, U1945 E. W. BATTERSON ET AL MOTION TAKE-UP FOR CONTROL CABLES Filed 'July 9, 1943 Patented Feb. `13, T945 MOTION TAKE-UP FOR CONTROL CABLERS Ernest W. Batterson and Eugene A; Midling, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignorto Shakespeare Products Company, Kalamazoo,` Mich., a corporation of Michigan Appucationjuly 9, 1943, seriai No. 494,686

12 claims. (o1. v4- 561) This invention relates to improvements in flexible control cables and particularly, to that type of control described and claimed in our copending application` for Letters Patent upon an improved heavy duty control cable, the invention having for an object to provide a novel form of motion take-up for? the motion transmitting inner member of the control, which will allow for elongation of its coiled 4Wire component` upon bending or flexing of the control cable during its installation, and to some extent, in operation; thus, insuring adequate `ilexibility` of the inner member and `maintaining an invariable" over-all length of the same for the eicient and accurate transmission of motion thereby.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a take-up for controls of the indicated character,

. whereinthe ilexible motion transmitting inner member thereof is supported in such a manner as will permit its being subjected to greater compression loads than said member would, otherwise, be capable of` withstanding; hence, preventing control -failure due to` buckling of the inner member` under an excessive pressure load applied thereto, and particu1arly,` buckling at a point or points vadjacent the take-up.

Other objects of thefinvention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood byA those l o skilled in the art towhich it appertains, we have in the accompanying drawing and the detailed description based thereupon, set out one emboditially throughout ites length, and an outer member, to be presently described in some detail,

which receives the inner member therein and therethrough. Said outer member comprises several principal components, to wit, a primary coiled wireor helical member 3, the coils or convolutions o-f which are relatively or substantially equi-spaced; a tightly braided non-elongating wire sheath 4 `snugly, and firmly encasing the -pr'imary member 3; a, secondary and tightly coiled wire or helical member 5, which receives the encased primary member 3 therein, and a casing for the secondary member, preferably in the form of` la tightly woven moisture and oil resisting fabric covering 6 entirely about said secondary member 5. The outer ends of the described control cable are suitably provided with combined connecting and operating ttings A, in order that the same may be efectually installed and the motion transmitting inner member L32 operated to transmit motion. An infexible tubular body 1,' made of metal or other suitable material, of appropriate length, is interposed in the length of that portion of )the aforesaid cable constituted `by the primary and `secondary members 3 and 5, respectively, #and their particular coverings 4 and 6g The diameter of this body 'l may be and preferably is slightly greater than that of the outside diameter of the control cable assembly, above` described, for a purpose which will be presently apparent. Its opposite ends are internally screw threaded and receiv-e screw threaded aferruls 8 therein, the outer ends` of which are preferably iiush with the adjacent orl corresponding ends of the body.

As will be noted upon reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing, connection between the adjacent portions of the primary and secondary members 3 and `5, and their respective coveringsor sheathsis effected, first, by extending portions of the primary member 3 and its braided take-up `conreference will `designate corresponding parts throughout, our improved take-up is especially adaptable for use in connection with the type of exible control cable illustrated and described in our abovereferred to co-pending application for Letters Patentrsaid cable, generally, comprising a motion` transmitting` inner member` composed `of a flexible cable i made of stranded wire` sheath 4 into the ferrules 8` engaged in the opposite` ends of the body 1, whereupon positive connection is `made by soldering said ferrules to adjacent portions of the braided wire sheath 4; second, by engaging iferrules `9 about the adjacent end 4portions oi the secondary member '5 and its covering 6, and arranging the same in ilush abutting engagement with theparti cularly adjacent ends of the body l andl itsend received ferrules `8. 'I'heferrules 9, preferably, correspond in diameter to the outside diameter of the body l. In consequence, continuity of surhaving inwardly disposed and relatively opposed centrally positioned annular shoulders II thereon. Said washers, as will be noted upon reference to the accompanying drawing, have the spaced ends thereof..

A pre-compressed coiled spring I2 is positioned viously, by increasing or decreasing the length of the tubular body 1, the extent of such adjustment or operation motion may be changed. Also, it will be understood that since the opposite or outer ends of the cable I and the Wire member 2 of said inner member are interconnected, as hereinbefore explained, they will 'be collectively moved and the substantial limits oi' lU f @pending or adjacent inner end of the ferrules between the relatively opposed andspaced washers IU, having its opposite` ends engaged over the inwardly disposed annular shoulders II'of said Washers and bearing upon the latter. Obviously, the wire cable I is received or extended v through this pre-compressed coiled spring I2. In

consequence, itwill be understood that the spaced and opposed washers IIl will be maintained .in engagement with the particularlyy adjacent ends of the coiled wire member 2.

The spring I2, as will be understood, may be pre-compressed to the desired'degree, in several ways, depending upon the design of parts. Such pre-compression may, however, be effected by fastening or securing the members I and 2 of the motion transmitting inner member, together at one end thereof, then compressingthewire member and the spring I2 while holding the loose end of. the motion transmitting. inner member until a predetermined load is obtained; thereupon, fastening the cable land its-wire member 2 (the inner member) at'theirremainingends tolrender them an integral unit, including the now compressed coiled spring I2, the washers IIJ, which are free ofthe' cable l for any small movement made necessary by any flexing of the control. `It is `desirable that the spring I2 be precompressed to a load or degree greater than any compressive load which may be applied to the inner member I, 2 during its usage.

Inusage of oury improved motion take-up, and assuming that the same has been incorporated in a control cable in the manner hereinbefore de` scribed, it will be understood that during installation of the thus equipped control cable, it becomes necessary to bend or flex the same, throughout its length, about or around intermediately located or arranged objects, i. e., objects located'between the controlmotion receiving end and the control motion transmitting end of lthe control cable. Such bending or flexing of the control cable results, in elongation of the coiled wire member 2 of the motion transmitting inner member. AUnless this elongationv is compensated for, the motion transmitting efficiency of the control Will'be materially impaired.y Because of the interpositioning of the preoompressed coiled spring I2 in the length of the coiled wire member 2 of said inner member,it. will be understood and appreciated by workers skilled in the art, that any material elongation ofj the wire member 2, effected as above, will' b'e automatically compensated for. Moreover, ifv during actual operation ofthe improved control, further or additional flexing of the corrtrol cable is effected to such an. extent as to'` cause further elongation of the coiled wire 2 -of the inner member I`, this elongation, too. will be automatically compensated for.

Because of the slidable reception of the washers I within the tubularbody 1, linear movement of theI cable control inner member` for control adjustment or operation, will be permitted. Ob-

suchv movement will be reached when either one said washers I0 abuttingly engages its corre- 8 in theinternally screw threaded opposite of the body ,'I.

^ In the form ofA take-up construction above described, it will be borne in mind that'the inner ends member coiled wire 2 is in direct contact with the shouldered washers I0 at either extremity of the compressed spring I2. In such a construction, the. control unit could not be subject to any greater compression load than the unsupported inner4 member I, 2 is capable ofv withstanding. Therefore, with a view to elimination of control failure such. as might be `due to buckling of the innermember I, 2 under an excessive compression'load at points adjacent the improved takeupwhere it, otherwise, would be unsupported by an outer member of any form, We provide a somewhat modied embodiment of our invention, as Y vshown in Figure 3 offthe accompanying drawing.

In the form of 4invention disclosed in said Figure 3, lengths of solid or inflexible tubing I3 and I 4-are substituted for corresponding portions or lengths of the Wire memberi 2. The tubing is of a diameter such as to snugly receive or accommodate the 'cable' I therein and thereprovided at eitherof the outerends ofthe tubing lengths I3 and I4. 'Ihe described modified construction will give firm andsolid support to those portions of the cable I` within the same, and, as

above explained, will eliminate buckling of the member 2. under an excessive compression load, at points adjacent the spring take-up, with resultant control failure. l

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of still further modification, and such modificaing said cable therethrough.

2. In combination with a exible control' cable, including an outer member and a motion transmitting inner member including a cable and'a coiled member encasing the same, received'in and through the outer member; a tubular body intermediately of the outer member, and spring means slidable in said body engaging 'and bearing upon spaced portions of said coiledmem-ber, and receiving said ca/ble therethrough.

constituted byv the 3. In combination with a flexible control cable, including an outer member and a motion transmitting inner member including a cable and a coiled member encasing the same, received in and through the outer member; a tubular body intermediately of the outer member, and expansible spring means bearing upon spaced portions of said coiled member slidably received in said body, and receiving said cable therethrough.

4. In combination with a flexible control cable, including an outer member and fa motion transmitting inner member including a cable and a coiled member encasing the same, received in and through the outer member; a tubular body arranged in and intermediately of theouter member receiving said motion transmitting member therethrough, a portion of the coiled member of said motion transmitting member within`the tubular body being removed, and spring means adjacent said removed portion of the coiled member engaging and bearing on the adjacent endsthereof bodily slidable in said body, and receiving said cable therethrough. i

5..In combination with a flexible control cable, including an outer member and` a motion transmitting inner member including a cable and a coiled member encasingthe same, received in and through the outer member; a tubular body intermediately of the outer member, and spring `means in and slidable throughout the `length of said body interposed in an adjacent portion of said coiled member engaging and bearing on its adjacent ends, and receiving the cable therethrough. n

6. In combination with a flexible control cable, including an outer member and a motion transmitting inner member including a cable and a coiled member encasing the same, received in and through the outer member; a tubular body intermediately of the outer member, and yieldable means reciprocally` received in said body inter posed in an adjacent portion'of said coiled member engaging and bearing on its adjacent ends, and receiving the cable therethrough.

7. In combination With a flexible control cable,

including an outer member and a motion transmitting inner member including a cable and a coiled member encasing the same, received in `and through the outer member; an inflexible tubular body arranged in and intermediately of the outer member receiving said motion transmitting member therethrough, a portion of the coiled member Within the body being removed, inilexible tubular means adjacent the removed portion of said coiled member receiving the cable of the motion transmitting means therethrough, and yieldable means in said body between corresponding ends of said tubular` means.

n coiled member encasing the same, received in and through the Outer member; a substantially rigid tubular body arranged in and intermediately of the outer member receiving said motion transmitting means therethrough, a portion of the coiled member lwithin the body being removed, substantially rigid tubular means adjacent the removed portion of said coiled member receiving portion of the motion transmitting member therethrough and having their inner ends relatively spaced, and motion compensating means in said body engaged between the spaced inner ends of said tubular means.

9. In combination With a flexible control cable, including an outer member and a motion transmitting member including a cable and a coiled member encasing the same, received in and through the outer member, a tubular member interposed in the outer member, and pre-tensioned spring means interposed Within the length or the coiled member engaging and bearing on its adjacent ends 'and reciprocal within said tubular member. n

10. In combination with a flexible control cable, including an outer member and a motion.

transmitting member including a cable and a coiled member encasing the same, received in and through the outer member, a tubular member interposed in the outer member, and compressed spring means interposed Within the length of the coiled member engaging and bearing on its adjacent ends, and reciprocally mounted within said ber interposed in the outer member and compressed spring means interposed Within the length ofthe coiled member engaging and bearing on its ends and mounted for limited reciprocal movemember encasing the1 same, received `in and i ment Within said tubular member.

l2. In combination with a exible control cable,

including an outer member and a motion transmitting member including a cable and a coiled through the outer member, a rigid tubular member interposed in the outerlmember, and pre- `compressed `spring means interposed Within the length of the` coiled member engaging and bearing on its adjacent ends and reciprocally mounted within said tubular member.

y ERNEST W. BATTERSON.

EUGENE A. MIDLING. 

